Murder at Claridge's (Hotel Mysteries)

by Jim Eldridge

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Murder at Claridge's is the third Hotel historical mystery by Jim Eldridge. Released 22nd April 2022 by Allison & Busby, it's 318 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. (Paperback format released in Nov 2022). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging and well written police procedural set in London during the blitz. The main protagonist, a well-heeled Scotland Yard DCI and his colleagues are trying to solve a strangling murder in the kitchens at Claridge's. The general chaos of the blitz and a large number of refugees from other areas of Europe are complicating factors, especially when it's revealed that the victim might be German instead of Romanian as he claimed. The mystery itself is well wrought and the characters are well delineated and distinct. The story is often somewhat gritty for a historical cozy mystery, and includes on page descriptions of blood and the less salubrious realities of wartime life. I liked the relationship between DCI Coburg and his wife, Rosa, who although she's a musician, is currently driving for the war effort in the ambulance corps.

Although it's the third book in the series, the necessary character backstories are provided and the mystery itself is self-contained, so it can be read as a standalone. It's an undemanding read for fans of British historical mysteries although I found a number of anachronistic feeling bits in the dialogue and descriptions which yanked me out of the story briefly. One example was the choice of "ripping him off". With a short perusal online, it appears to have been used as early as the 12th century, however it wasn't in common vernacular until the 1960s (in America). That's a relatively small quibble however, and with three books extant in the series, it's a good candidate for an entertaining weekend binge read. 

Four stars. 
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.